spouses

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of spouse.

   The surviving spouses each received a share of the estate.

   Health plans at the firm now extend coverage to spouses and children.

   Note

   A regular plural, made by adding -s to the noun, and spelled exactly like the dated verb form. Context almost always settles which is meant. The noun names a person in a marriage without specifying husband or wife, so spouses covers both at once. In the possessive the apostrophe follows the final s: the spouses' rights, the spouses' shared estate.

2. 2
   verbdated

   Third-person singular simple present of spouse. Archaic: marries, or gives in marriage.

   Note

   Here the form belongs to a dated verb meaning to wed, a near twin of espouse, rather than to the everyday plural noun that shares its spelling. In present-day writing marries usually does this work. Spouses as a verb reads as deliberately old-fashioned, which suits tales of kings, clans and arranged alliances. Like marries, it takes a direct object and often a to-phrase naming the partner.

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